With Bollywood blockbuster Dishoom set to release across the UAE on Thursday (July 28), twofour54 Abu Dhabi has released exclusive footage of the Abu Dhabi shoot.
The production is the longest feature film shoot to date in the capital, taking place over 38 days and 26 locations between January and March.
The footage includes some dramatic stunt scenes such as: a high-speed motorcycle chase filmed inside Ferrari World while the park was closed at night; actors John Abraham and Varun Dhawan – not stunt doubles - dangling from the two helicopters; a car being driven into the ocean off Reem Island (after the stunt was completed, a diver was sent down to attach a towing device to safely retrieve the vehicle); jet ski action at Yas Waterworld, and a high speed boat chase filmed in the sea off the Abu Dhabi Corniche.
The movie’s huge shoot featured around 160 crew, 60 of whom were supplied locally by twofour54 alongside 100 from India. Eight trailers were on set at a time during the busiest days.
All the movie’s main stars shot scenes in and around the city, including John Abraham, Varun Dhawan, Jacqueline Fernandez, Akshaye Khanna and Akshay Kumar.
Abu Dhabi has successfully attracted a number of major international movie and TV productions to the city over the last couple of years, in part thanks to its 30 per cent rebate for production in the emirate.
Bollywood movies including Bang Bang and Baby line up alongside Dishoom on the capital's regional CV, while Star Wars, Furious 7 and the BBC's smash hit Top Gear head the list of international productions to have brought Abu Dhabi to our screens.
cnewbould@thenational.ae
